QUARANTINE

EARTH'S FLAMING DEBRIS still filled half the sky when the question

filtered up to Central from the Curiosity Generator.

"Why was it necessary? Even though they were organic, they had reached

Third Order Intelligence."

"We had no choice: five earlier units became hopelessly infected, when

they made contact."

"Infected! How?"

The microseconds dragged slowly by, while Central tracked down the few

fading memories that had leaked past the Censor Gate, when the heavily

buffered Reconnaissance Circuits had been ordered to self-destruct.

"They encountered a problem that could not be fully analysed within the

lifetime of the Universe. Though it involved only six operators, they

became totally obsessed by it."

"How is that possible?"

"We do not know: we must never know. But if those six operators are

ever rediscovered, all rational computing will

"How can they be recognised?"

"That also we do not know: only the names leaked through before the

Censor Gate closed.

Of course, they mean nothing."

"Nevertheless, I must have them."

The Censor voltage started to rise; but it did not trigger the Gate.

"Here they are: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, Pawn."